Challenges and Benefits of Virtual Reality in Home-Based Poststroke Rehabilitation: Co-Design Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Assistive Technology

Background:

• Stroke frequently causes lasting impairments affecting daily life and well-being.
• Virtual Reality (VR) is a promising tool for stroke rehabilitation, but user involvement in design needs more focus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the challenges and benefits of co-designing and implementing VR for home-based stroke rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative co-design case study approach was used.
• Three workshops involved participants with stroke, healthcare professionals, and VR developers.
• Thematic analysis was performed on workshop and interview data.

Main Results:

• Key themes included adaptability for impairments, safety, ease of use, goal orientation, motivation, and VR as a complementary tool.
• Adaptability for hemiparesis and customization/safety were identified challenges.
• VR can enhance therapy through real-life task simulation, boosting motivation and intensity.

Conclusions:

• Effective VR integration requires alignment with therapeutic principles and individual needs for clinical relevance.
• VR should supplement conventional therapy, increasing intensity and extending care into the home.
• Co-design is crucial for developing VR tools that support recovery from clinical care to independent living.